Labor Unions Warn of June Unrest

Labor unions are getting ready for negotiations and possible strikes in June.

The Korean Federation of Transportation, Public & Social Services Workers Unions, affiliated under the Korean Federation of Trade Unions, announced Saturday that it would hold a full-scale resolution campaign at the Busan Station Plazaon on June 13. All union members are expected to participate.

Starting Thursday, union members plan to attach flags on vehicles on national highways, harbors, and factories, wear black ribbons, and conduct various promotion activities. The Korea Cargo Transportation Workers Federation, which held two strikes last year and affected many sectors of society, is a subsidiary of the Korean Federation of Transportation, Public & Social Services Workers Unions.

The Korean Federation of Transportation, Public & Social Services Workers Unions has made a number of demands including:

- Full payment of subsidies from the transportation fee increase

- Payment of freight rates in cash

- Establishment of a transportation revenue adjustment body (in which union members participate)

If the government does not accept these demands, the union will seriously consider holding a general strike in June.

Also among the demands is the nullification of the operation commencement command system, which was set up by the government as an alternative measure last year when the Korea Cargo Transportation Workers Federation went on strike. Because ensuring the basic three rights of laborers, and regular negotiations between workers and the government are also included in the demands, conflict is expected to erupt during negotiations. The Korea Cargo Transportation Workers Federation has set the deadline for the government’s response for June 15.

Because the government won a sweeping victory last year after the second strike of the Korea Cargo Transportation Workers Federation ended after conducting just a few negotiations on the demands of the workers, experts expect the Korean Federation of Transportation, Public & Social Services Workers Unions to hold a more resolute stance this time.

The Korean Metal Workers Federation, affiliated under the Korean Federation of Trade Unions, says that reaching an agreement through negotiations held by each industry is their main goal this year. The Korean Metal Workers Federation plans to hold a vote on a possible strike next month, and possibly go on strike on July 15 or 16. The Korean Metal Workers Federation plans to apply legal action in the forms of complaints and prosecution requests against industries that do not accept negotiations.

The Korean Health and Medical Workers Union, also affiliated under the Korean Federation of Trade Unions, has held seven sets of negotiations this year, but has not seen substantial negotiation results due to the absence of representatives from the national and public hospitals. The union plans to hold three more sets of negotiations. Under the current circumstances, however, the strike set for July 10 is expected to be inevitable.

An official from the Korean Federation of Trade Unions said, “We hope to be able to restrain a general strike and go through careful consideration before making a decision.” The official said that according to the outcomes of the negotiations concerning workers’ wages and other issues conducted by each separate industry, it is possible that strikes will occur in succession.

Jong-Hoon Lee taylor55@donga.com